Cris Cyborg Calls Out Ronda Rousey After Gina Carano Fight Announcement

by

The highly anticipated fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano is a dream come true for many MMA fans. However, the match has stirred up some controversy, with fighter Cris Cyborg publicly criticizing Rousey on X (formerly Twitter) for past comments about retirement. While fans are excited for this long-awaited showdown, some critics view it as a revisiting of a missed opportunity from years ago.

🤡 all those years of ducking me at 145 when we were both in our prime?!

I thought you had CTE or something?

— CrisCy₿org.Com (@criscyborg) February 17, 2026

Cyborg publicly called out Ronda Rousey in a social media post, even though she didn’t directly mention Rousey’s account. The post started with a clown emoji and questioned why Rousey had avoided fighting her when both were at their best, asking if Rousey had a brain injury. She included a screenshot of a recent article where Rousey said she risked going blind during fights.

The post resurrects one of MMA’s longest-running feuds.

Cyborg Reignites Long-Running Rivalry

Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino first became a major name in mixed martial arts with a quick first-round win over Gina Carano in 2009. She continued to dominate, winning seven more fights before joining the UFC in 2016, where she eventually became the featherweight champion. Fans often wanted to see a fight between Cyborg and Ronda Rousey, but they competed in different weight classes, and neither fighter was willing to change divisions to make it happen.

Despite the issues, Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg continued to exchange harsh words. In 2015, Rousey brought up Cyborg’s past steroid use and loss of a championship title, stating the choice to fight was entirely up to Cyborg. Rousey publicly called Cyborg a ‘fraud’ and, seemingly addressing Cyborg directly, challenged her to prove she could compete at a lower weight class without using steroids, implying she had previously relied on them to reach 145 pounds.

Rousey finished by saying that if her opponent doesn’t accept the challenge, she’ll pursue other opportunities. She believes her opponent’s career will suffer without her involvement.

In November 2025, Cyborg discussed opponents she never got to fight, like Ronda Rousey, and stated her belief that those fights were never seriously considered. She felt they were only used to generate publicity for the other fighters.

A Comeback Fight Years in the Making

The fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano on May 16th is expected to be a big deal on Netflix. It’s Rousey’s first time back in mixed martial arts after a nine-year break, and Carano hasn’t fought since 2009. Despite both being major figures in the sport, they’ve never actually competed against each other. This event is a chance for one of these MMA legends to truly solidify their place in history.

“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” Carano said. “She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”

Cris Cyborg speaking out has changed how people are talking about the upcoming fight. If Rousey wins against Carano, some will still wonder what might have happened if she’d fought Cyborg earlier. If Rousey loses, a fight with Cyborg could be a chance for her to bounce back – or it could be an even bigger defeat.

Read More

2026-02-18 22:56